Sai Sister Deep Priya from India says: Dear Devotees, Recently I had been to Shirdi to have the Darshan and blessings of Shree Sai Baba. I have posted my experiences in this forum. Om Sai Ram! The Moral Law is inexorable, so follow it, observe it, and you will reach your goal. God is the Perfection of the Moral Law” ~ Shree Shirdi Sai Baba (Born 1838, Pathri Died Oct 15, 1918, Shirdi) So, was it planned to go to Shirdi, or were I called by the Saint Shree Sai Baba to visit Shirdi and take His blessings? If i am asked this question, I would say that it was both called by Him and we planned. I started believing and worshipping Baba Since 2005, the year I came to Bangalore for a dissertation. Everywhere I turn, I could see His Photos, Idols, sayings (e.g. “Why fear when I am here”), devotees worshipping and praising His deeds in gathering in Satsang (Group of people praising God and singing devotional songs). I could feel some vibration within me when I saw His Picture and gotten into the curiosity of knowing more about Him. I savvied about Him from my friends praising Him how He was with them during their hardships.

I started visiting the Temples where He was worshipped. I could feel blessed each and every moment I stepped into the Mandir. To add on to this bliss, I happened to see His Photo from which the holy ashes what we call as “Vibhuti” pours down. Though incredible, I could see through my eyes the Vibhuti coming out from the glass photo that had Baba’s picture. Such a Miracle that anybody could witness. I also heard that in one of my friends’ house, turmeric powder that is considered holy in India pours down from Baba’s Photo. My faith grew on Him more by seeing this miracle and listening to His stories. The thought of somehow visiting Shirdi rooted up in my mind and this thought that I had thrown to the universe has reached the controller of the Universe, Shree Sai Baba. I usually take Baba’s help before proceeding for any work or any endeavour through Sai Baba’s questions and Answers site. It so happened that one day, I typed a question related to my job loss, as I was bogged down and desperate in need of a job. He answered me asking me to visit Shirdi and to apply the Holy Ashes Vibhuti on my forehead and soon I will be relieved from all my mental agony and crisis. I felt very meritorious and my happiness had no boundaries. I wanted to leave the very moment itself to Shirdi. I was in so much joy then. I had a wish to take my parents along with me to Shirdi. So, it was my Dad who had been with us throughout for arranging travel, boarding and lodging.
It was Feb 17, 2015, my son Niall, celebrating his 6th Birthday, and the same day, Dad got the tickets booked to Shirdi by train. It was an auspicious day of “Maha Shivratri”, a day we intensely immerse in worshipping Lord Shiva. We caught the train to Shirdi. It was Kurla express that took us to Daund. From Daund, we had to encounter lots of hiccups as we didn’t have confirmed tickets to reach Kopargaon. We bought open tickets in a connecting train from Daund to Kopergaon. Keeping faith in Baba, amongst several difficulties, we could get the seats also. Alighted from the train we all, at Kopargaon, we took an auto rickshaw to go to Shirdi which was 20 Kms away from there. We safely reached Shirdi by His grace. It was a Journey of around 20 hours, we were welcomed by an acquaintance there in Shirdi, we were severed a delicious meal, which we call as “Anna Danam”, food donated to the devotees. After having our food, we booked a room at a good hotel nearby and refreshed ourselves. Rested for an hour, we got up, dressed with new garments, to visit the holy Mandir of Shree Sai Baba. Yes, my lifetime dream was to visit Baba is going to come true and i was there with limitless joy.

We all moved to the Temple which was just 10 minutes walk from the hotel we stayed. We, got into the lane, moved in, and waited in “Darshan Hall-2”. The offerings to Baba, the evening Pooja Aarti (devotional offering) was going on and we could watch that through the TV screens kept in the Halls in many places as and when we moved. Like a small child, yearning for Mother’s love, I was waiting with flowers in my hands, when I will step into the hall, where Baba’s Samadhi (Baba’s body buried) was there with His huge idol. On the way, we were distributed consecrated “Prasad” (holy food). Then, it took 45 minutes to come through several lanes and climbed steps. Finally, there He is, garbed with red holy garment, His Samadhi covered with orange, hall fully decorated with flowers and Garlands, lightings, it was a complete bliss. Anybody will surrender in such an ambience to Baba. In fact, I forgot myself what I wanted to pray and was blank till I went very near Him. I was fortunate that day because I could touch His Holy Lotus Feet and Samadhi by my hands and there was no rails kept to guard them. My entire family was left with bliss. I surrendered myself to the saint, Fakir and Sadguru, Who having gone the path of divine consciousness Himself, leads His disciples through the jungle of spiritual teaching. I felt that I have started to pursue the path of Self-Realization ardently after placing my head on His Holy Feet.

After the Darshan, we had visited few other Shrines such as Dwarkamai Masjid, were the “Dhuni” (Furnace in which Baba cooled Himself) form which we get the Vibhuti was there, Chavadi, Hanuman Shrine, Ganesha Shrine etc. Had our dinner in a restaurant, we returned to the hotel. Next day was Thursday, regarded as the day of Sai Baba. I had a thought of visiting it again. I asked my mother about this and she agreed. Next day, early morning around 5, me and my mom reached the Temple. But this time, it was crowded and the queue was too lengthy as it was Thursday. We bought some garland and sweet packets to keep in Baba’s Feet and distribute as “Prasad” to our people. It took nearly 1 and ½ hours to get the Darshan. This time, I could not touch the Holy Feet and Samadhi as the rails were kept to guard them. So, I was feeling lucky that we made to the Mandir yesterday and touched the Feet and Samadhi. After having the Darshan, me and mom, took a big walk around the Temple and explored many more holy Shrines around. Amongst those was a deity on whom I had a special love and devotion, “Lord Dattatreya”. He was looking so beautiful and shining in marble. I offered Him flowers and prayed for some time.

We could see the Neem tree, which is believed that Baba rested there and it has a cave under it. The leaves from the Neem tree branch which served as Baba’s place of rest, tastes sweet, this Neem tree is believed to be efficacious and cure ailments. It was protected with the net from the leaves falling down. We were also fortunate that, we could see the counter where they were distributing “Udi”, or “Vibhuti”, the holy ashes. I had no idea that Udi is distributed here and again I felt so very blessed that I missed it the previous day but Baba made me to see this day. Me and mom rushed there collected the Udi packets. The Udi, by inferences is believed to cure mental and physical ailments when it is applied on forehead and wounded parts. Hence, it is very powerful and devotes will definitely like to get one for them. I was so happy that I am lucky to get one for myself and was feeling blessed to the core. The place also had a museum where Baba’s things like His apparels, utensils, etc were kept for display. After having a visit there, we me and mom, went to around for shopping. We bought some Baba’s Idols to distribute to our neighbours. After shopping, we both were back to the hotel to send my dad who also wanted to visit the Mandir. I was overwhelmed with joy that I could make it to Shirdi and i am still carrying the feel of bliss after having passed a month. To me, this is an unforgettable trip and has etched each and every moment of this visit. There were few more other Temples nearby Shirdi like Alandi, Shegaon, Ramkund, Muktidham, Kalaram Temple, Ellora Caves, Tribakeswar, Bhimkeswar, Shingapur etc. As this trip was a short visit to Shirdi, we could not visit those places. Our next Shirdi trip will be a long one of 5 days where we would visit all the nearby Shrines. My next blog on Shirdi visit will be even more exciting and informative with the blessings of Shirdi Shree Sai Baba.

Anonymous Devotee from India says: I am 28 years old girl from Kolkata. I am from engineering background, currently trying for Govt. job. I live with my mother. My father passed away in 2007. I have an elder brother who is married and has two daughters. As a person, I am very straight forward, loyal, honest and transparent. Three years ago, I met a boy who was in my graduation college. But both of us were passed out when we met. This guy is Muslim and I am Hindu. We became very good friends within a very short time. He was so nice to me. He always told me that I was his best friend. I was the closest girl in his life. He always supported me, understood me, and complemented me in everything. His behaviour towards me was kind of what every girl wants. He was also romantic with me. So eventually, I fell in love with him. But he told me that as our religion is different, so marriage between us would not be possible. So he told me to treat him as a friend. But the fact was our relation was not only of friends. But due to the religion problem, I did not force him to commit. For 2 years, we talked every day, shared our feelings.

Suddenly after 2 years, he stopped talking to me saying that his family had fixed his marriage. He told me that he respected me a lot and would be friends for life but he wanted some distance to be maintained. So I accepted his decision and stopped contacting with him. During that period, I was crying like hell, missing him always. I was very upset and couldn't imagine him with any other girl. That was the time, when I found about Sai Baba's Vrat that could help to bring love back. I heard about Sai Baba before that He accepts prayer. So, I prayed Him for bringing my love back each day at the time of worship and chanted the mantra "Om Sidhdha Sankalpaya Namah" daily only 3 times. After 5 months, that boy came back into my life saying that his marriage was not fixed and he was missing me. I was very happy. But again after two months, I found something doubtful in his Facebook profile. Then he told me that he was going to marry a girl for money only as his family was going through a financial crisis. He also told me that he loved me and would marry me if I were Muslim and told lots of emotional talks. I believed him but did not like the idea of marriage because of money. I stopped contacting him. But he used to send me message, email saying that how much he was missing me and how much he was ashamed of hurting me etc. But I tried not to respond him.

This time, I started to worship Sai Baba. I chanted the mantra daily for 108 times and asked Him to make that boy my husband. During this period, suddenly I talked with a common friend of us. Then only I came to know the truth. The boy I loved was a liar, a betrayer. He was in relationship with another girl during those 5 months when he stopped talking to me. Not only that, his current relation also is a love relation. He did not love me, did not miss me. Then I talked to his current fiancé. Then I got to know that he had told so many bad things about me to that girl and so many lies about me. I was just stunned. When I asked that boy of everything, he was so shameless that he did not even regret of his deeds. He told bad words to me. I was so disheartened. I loved that person, trusted that person blindly. But he always lied to me. Each and every feelings of his was fake, he tried to use me, nothing else. May be this is not a happy incident but the fact is sometimes God prevents us from going to wrong path. And that is what Sai Baba did. After 3 years, I came to know about this guy's true face during my Vrat. I am thankful to Sai Baba for revealing the truth in front of me. After that I continued the chanting to complete total 41 days. But that time I did not wish that boy as my husband, I just Thanked Baba and asked Him to protect me from the wrong. If the truth was not revealed may be I would be still crying for that boy.

Anonymous Devotee from UK says: Hello, First of all, i want to say thanks to the admin of this blog for doing this wonderful divine job and thank you for inspiring every Sai devotee by posting wonderful experiences of fellow Sai devotees. I am staying in UK for past 6 years with my husband and kids. They are also devotees of Sai Maa. Here i want to share one of my recent experiences. For past one and half year, i was going for the driving classes. Here in UK, getting driving licence is quite difficult, we have to drive at least 40 minutes with examiner on different routes. Even if we make one serious mistake then they fail us. Being a mother of two kids, having driving license in this country is must for dropping and picking up kids from school. After finishing few classes, i booked my first driving test on 19th July. Before the day of my test, we were watching football match. Suddenly, i thought of my test and started praying to Baba that i should get my licence on first attempt itself. But suddenly my husband yelled "Oh, 19 is out and 9 is in". Then i got scared and asked him that what happened. He said that 19 number player is out due to some mistake and he was replaced with 9 number player. On the same moment, i felt as if i have got an answer from Baba that i would fail in the next day test. I failed in my first attempt, second, third, fourth, fifth and also on sixth attempt.

After failing in every attempt, i used to cry a lot in front of the Baba's Photo. Only Baba knows my agony which i was going through. After failing on sixth attempt, when i checked in for the next possible date for booking the test, it was on the date 9. I remembered the incident of football and felt happy that there mentioned 9 is in. So i was confident that i would surely pass this time as my Sai Maa already told me that i would pass on the date of 9 and also i asked Baba before the day of test whether i pass the test on this attempt. Usually i open the Sai Satcharitra while thinking the problem. Whatever i get on the particular page, i consider it as the answer from Baba. This time i got positive answer and with great confidence, i went to the test centre. I kept on praying to Baba while driving as well. At last, i got the result that i passed the test. My joy had no bounds. I felt very happy and said thanks to Sai Maa. It is really greatest Miracle in my life that Baba first itself told me the date to get the test booked. But i realised that only after passing the test on particular date. But one thing is worthy to mention here that i built up so much confidence over my driving in the period of first test to last one. All this happened only because of Sai Maa that He wanted me to build the confidence and experience over driving. Only our Sai knows when to fulfil our wishes. But He only wants us to be with Shradda and Saburi. These two things are essential to all Sai devotees.

Anonymous Devotee from India says: I am a Sai devotee from Pune. I started believing Sai since 2009. That time, i was in Delhi in hostel. A Sai Temple was near to my hostel. I used to go daily to Sai Temple at evening Aarti time. From that time, I came close to my Sai. I have experienced a lot of Sai Baba Miracles in my life and few of them, i am writing here.

I got married in February 2012 and got pregnant in March 2014. I wanted normal delivery as i had heard a lot about side effects of C-section delivery. My expected date was 1st week of November. Everything was going fine but in 7th month, my BP went high. It remained high till the end of October. Doctor told me that normal delivery would not be possible as the BP is high. I was very upset and prayed Baba to make everything fine and to make my BP normal. To my surprise, on 1st of November, doctor said that BP came to normal and on 3rd November, I delivered a healthy baby girl through normal delivery. It all became possible by the Grace of my Sai Baba. Thanks a lot Sai Baba.

My baby is 4 months old now. She was spitting a lot of milk since 3-4 days. Me and my husband were very upset. I applied Udi on her forehead and prayed Baba to make her fine. I promised Baba that if she stops spitting the milk, i would post my experience on this page. Baba listened to my prayer and within 1 day, my baby stopped spitting. Thanks Baba. Me and my husband use to go Sai Temple nearby our home every Thursday. There I donate 11 Rs. in donation box. I read in Sai Satcharitra that Baba returns 100 times of what He takes from His devotee. But in my case Baba ji returned thousand times of what i gave Him. To my surprise, we received an unexpected 11000 Rs from one of my relative. It was a Sai Miracle. Thanks Baba. You are so kind. Love You a lot. Never leave me. Shower Your blessing always on me, my family and all Sai devotee. Thanks Sai lover’s for reading this post. I am praying Baba to fulfil my two more wishes. I am doing Nav Guruvar Vrat too. I am sure Baba will definitely fulfil my wishes. Ananta Koti Brahmand Nayak Raajadhiraj Yogiraj Param Brahama Sachidanand Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jay. Om Sai Ram.

Anonymous Devotee from India says: Firstly, I would like to thank the team who is allowing me to post this experience. I have subscribed to this "Devotees Experiences" for last 3 years. It really gives peace to me after going to various experiences posted over here. By the Grace of Sai, I am writing this beautiful experience I went through recently. I have been engaged for almost 5 months and it has been a good journey to my relation. Everything was alright for nearly 4 months. We used to meet frequently. But on 18th January, we went in Mumbai Marathon, and had a good time. After marathon, we spent time on movies and gossiping. Few days passed, and the day my fiancé was about to get periods, it got delayed. She thought it might get delayed due to some or the other reason. Later, days passed and it was 2 months, she was still not getting her periods, and here we both were tensed.

Some weird and scary thoughts were distracting our mind as if she is getting pregnant, what will happen later. Everything will be a mess. I always had Baba's Udi with me and I gave one to my fiancé with 100% faith that everything will be fine. She had it with water as she did not like the taste. It was 70 days delayed and we both decided to visit a doctor, before it gets more delayed. Somehow we managed to visit a doctor. I was having complete faith in Baba, as He has always been with devotees in hard times. Luckily, I found Baba's Idol in hospital and I was so happy. Constantly, I was staring Baba and praying that everything should be fine, then I will surely post this experience. I am really thankful to Baba, when reports came everything was Ok and nothing went wrong as everything could have messed up if thing could have went on the other side. Keep showering such blessing on all Your devotees Sai. Om Sai Ram.

Anonymous Devotee from India says: Thank You Sai for helping me pen down my experiences with all here. Sai has been an Organiser of my life till now. He helps me out whenever I cry for help. He is a part and parcel of my life. I was working in a corporate company for the past 5 years and was working for the same salary all throughout my 5 years there. After my wedding, me and my husband struggled sometimes to make our meets end after we bought a house. Our pre EMI was pushing us down so hard that we were wondering if we could make our both ends meet with the salary we got. In the meanwhile, I was trying for a better job but could not clear any interviews. There came a time when our loan repayments were so high for us to afford. It was then, when I got an instinct feeling that I would get a better job soon to handle the situation. I thank God for giving me confidence by speaking to me through these instincts. I finally cleared the interview for a better job in the week that followed and I am finally working there. Thank You Lord for leading me. I know, You are there for me in all the paths I travel and You are there before I go through a new path. However, I am so ignorant sometimes that I forget Your presence and begin to panic. Help me understand that You are there for me. Currently, I am not doing well due to irregular periods. Though I know I am in safe hands of Sai, I panic. My Lord, please save me. I also pray for everyone's wellbeing.

I am childish and love to be like that only whatever may come. Very small happiness make me happy so i dont search for big ones, want to be myself in my own world of thoughts, introvert, very positive, creative, calm, like to play pranks with my closed ones only, like to be at home with my family. Dont forget to check out my official Facebook Page for pictures and updates.

om sai ram..!!thank you so much baba for all those miracles you did in my life..saimaa..you know about my difficult situation and my familys problem..plz save us from that agony..Baba i have a wish...you know am living in a small village..their is no sai temple here..so please make a sai temple here or else please make a sai idol in one of the temples in our village..please make my wish true sai baba...if my wish comes true i will visit your temple everyday..i promise you baba..love you so much saimaa..dont leave me alone..because am in a difficult phase of my life..if i did any mistakes plz forgive me baba...

Can please anyone here who has been to shirdi and nasik before can suggest me the best way to visit these places from delhi...i have been to shirdi before but not triyambakeshwar near nasik so i don't know about the route, conveyance etc...should we get down at manmad and catch something from there to go to nasik and then visit shirdi coz we have to return train from manmad, also is it possible to go to triybakeshwar and return to shirdi the same day since i am not aware of any accommodation facilities at nasik..please help us any who have done this before...

Once u get down in manmad, u cn tk auto for shirdi (not so far , half n hr ). Hv drshan in shirdi n for nasik u cn hire cabs from shirdi to nasik n u cn return on same day as well ( max 2 hr run) even u cn see 2-3 temples in nasik , its a one day trip from shirdi to nasik

Thanks saima. U made it happen pa. Always be with me pa baba and guide me and take care of me pa. I don't have anyone unconditional other than you pa. Make me prideless and egoless pa. I love you my amma appa. Om sairam.

TODAY I SAW A VERY BEUTIFUL DREAM OF BABA THERE WAS HUGE IDOL OF BABA TOUCHING THE SKY STANDING ON A BASE THEN AS SOON AS I MOVE FURTHER ON ROAD BABA CAME FLYING WITH ME ALL OVER I STILL REMEMBER HOW BEAUTIFUL IDOL WAS

very beautifully narrated Shirdi Visit story of the First devotee. You should continue writting in such beautiful crafted words. Really liked reading and felt as if I am right there while you were narating.

Dear Devotees! When we are referring to BABA ji, we should not say "He died in 1918" (please excuse us BABA) , we should always refer to the day as He attained Maha Samadhi. This was made clear in Satcharitra by BABAji Himself. He comes in the dream of a devotee and says when Yogis, Siddha Purush and Mahatmas leave their Mortal body, we always should say they attained Salvation, not refer to as they died, because they are Omni present. Thank you.Om Sai Ram

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